The March of Dimes California Chapter has awarded the Long Beach Health Department a $117,000, three-year grant to fund a collaboration with the Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) Psychology Department, designed to reduce incidences of low birth-weight and premature births, the health department announced in a statement Wednesday.
The collaboration project, called “Destined for Greatness,” stems from a CSULB research endeavor “for which early data show a positive impact on the stress levels and coping skills of childbearing age women who are experiencing high levels of stress,” according to the statement from the health department. “The goals of the project are to decrease depression and increase positive coping skills in order to have a positive impact on mental health and chronic disease, with the ultimate outcome of reduced incidences of low birth-weight and premature births.”
The project targets black women who are participating in the health department’s Black Infant Health program, which was initiated and funded by the California Department of Public Health to address high rates of infant mortality.
The Long Beach project was one of six grantees in California selected by the March of Dimes California Chapter to develop projects that increase prenatal care, improve women’s health in order to maximize their chances of delivering healthy babies and improve screening and diagnosis of heart birth defects. More specifically, the projects focus on underserved female populations, such as women who are incarcerated, as well as the Latina, Pacific Islander and black communities.
“This investment by the March of Dimes helps keep Long Beach at the forefront of preventative health strategies,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “Early intervention is the best way to support the health and well-being of our community, particularly the most vulnerable residents.”